OSU hasn't won by 2 TDs at Michigan since '61

BUCKEYES BUZZ: Not so long ago, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer didn't trust his defensive line.

Sure, there were a lot of questions about the group before the season started, since all four starters were gone, three to graduation and another leaving early for the NFL.

But as recently as six weeks ago, Meyer wondered whether Noah Spence, Michael Bennett, Joey Bosa and Joel Hale had the stuff to really be above average.

"Against Iowa we were a little alarmed, because I don't think we played very well," Meyer said of the closer-than-expected 34-24 victory at Ohio Stadium on Oct. 19. "But other than that we've played pretty good."

It was about that time that Bosa, a freshman out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., started to get more playing time in place of DE Adolphus Washington. Bosa was a revelation.

And then Bennett, in particular, stepped up his game and became a force in the middle.

"We just keep getting better each week, as you would imagine with a bunch of sophomores and a few juniors and even a freshman in there," Meyer said.

No one appreciates the change more than those in the secondary, who now have more time to make decisions, to cover receivers or to recover from minor mistakes.

"(The line has) played great," said S C.J. Barnett. "Any time you can get pressure on the quarterback that quickly, that helps us out a lot, tremendously. We have great guys in Mike Bennett and Noah Spence, Joey Bosa and all those guys."

The entire unit returns, or at least could return, next year. That also includes junior Steve Miller and sophomores Jamal Marcus, Tommy Schutt, Chris Carter and Chase Farris.

Meyer can't wait to see how good they'll all be.

"I think there's some future NFL players in that group, which is always a good way to grade how recruiting went — if they move on and go on and become NFL players," he said. "I think we see that coming down the road."

NOTES OF THE WEEK: As of Wednesday morning, the Glantz-Culver line still had Ohio State favored by 14 1/2 points. That is completely out of line with historical data.

— Over the last 50 years, only 11 times has "The Game" been decided by more than 14 points (Ohio State winning eight times, Michigan three).

— The last time Ohio State won by more than 14 points at The Big House was 50-20 ... in 1961. In other words, in none of the last 25 trips there did the Buckeyes win by as many points as the oddsmakers are predicting they will this time.

QUOTABLE: Michigan's fifth-year senior LT Taylor Lewan considered jumping to the NFL a year ago but ultimately decided to stick around. Despite a four-loss season, he says he has no second thoughts: "I think people might think that I regret my decision to come back as a senior. Absolutely not. Being around these guys in the locker room, win or lose, they are my brothers. Being around them for one more year, experiencing college for another year, that's huge. I know we didn't win the Big Ten championship, didn't accomplish individual awards but at the same time, I am playing football with my friends and hopefully, I get to do that in the future. But I am happy about that right now."

REVISITING "THE GAME": Each day this week, Periscope takes a brief look back at a memorable Ohio State-Michigan game.

For the second year in a row, Ohio State was unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in 1996 heading into the final game on its schedule. Michigan had three losses and was a heavy underdog at Ohio Stadium.

But the Wolverines pulled off a 13-9 shocker, thanks to a little slip.

The loss dropped Ohio State just enough in the polls that even when the Buckeyes won the Rose Bowl they ended up a close No. 2.

It was as close as John Cooper would ever come to a national championship as Ohio State's coach.

NO DAYS OFF: Ohio State did not have class on Wednesday, but the players still had practice at 2:45 p.m.

That left time for some community service activities.

The offense spent an hour packing and unpacking boxes at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in suburban Grove City, while defensive players helped out at the LifeCare Alliance locations at Harmon Ave. and Mound Street in the morning.

The Buckeyes were set to practice at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Following the traditional senior tackle, the players were permitted to go home for the holiday if they lived within a reasonable driving distance. Other players, those who are from out of state for example, could tag along with teammates. Others went to their coaches' homes. All are expected back on campus by 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

The team bus departs the Woody Hayes Athletic Center at 3 p.m. Friday for the trip to Ann Arbor, Mich.

BEER BET: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown from Ohio and U.S. Rep. Gary Peters from Michigan placed a friendly wager on the outcome of "The Game": The winner will receive a six-pack of craft beer from the other's home state.

Brown put up a handful of Ohio-brewed Great Lakes Christmas Ale against Peters' choice from the Michigan-brewed Detroit Beer Company.

As is always the case with these friendly political wagers, both sides expressed confidence in their teams and took veiled shots at the opposing squad.

Brown is an Ohio State graduate, while Peters matriculated at Michigan State but his daughter Maddie is a freshman at U of M.

COACHING FINALIST: The Rotary Club of Little Rock, which sponsors the annual Broyles Award presented to the top assistant coach in the country, has listed Ohio State offensive coordinator and QBs coach Tom Herman as one of 40 finalists.

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